Show-case.



PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

0. B. WILTON.

SHOW CASE.

APPLICATION rump we. 26, 1902.

E 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 734,644. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

4 0. E. WILTON.

SHOW CASE. T APPLIOATIOIT FILED we. 26, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

3 S HEETS-SHEET 2.

. PATENTBD JULY 28 1903.

c. E. WILTON.

snow CASE. APPLICATION TILED AUG. 26, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H0 MODEL.

VII/II/IiI/I No. mph;

1 UN T STA-Ties ATENT rammed" July 28,1 903.

FFICE.

SHOW-GAS E.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 734,644=, dated July 28, 1903.

I Application filed August 26, 1902-. Serial No. 121,092. (No mode-1.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LOARL EDWARD WILTON, a citizenof the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Show-Cases, of which the following is a specification. I

Myinventiou relates to improvements; in show-cases; and it has for its general object to provide a knockdown show-case the parts of which are adapted tobe packed in a very small compass in such manner that the liability of any of the parts being broken or injured in storage or shipment is reduced to a minimum, and one which is susceptible ofbe ing readily set up ready for use without the employmentof skilled labor, and which when set up is as stable, strong, and durable and at the same time as finished inappearance as an ordinary show-case.

With the foregoing in mind the invention will be fully understood from. the following description and claims when" taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the showcase constituting the preferred embodiment of my invention as the same appears when set up ready for use; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the'same; Fig. 3, a plan view of the case as it appears when packed for shipment; Fig. 4, a section taken in the plane indicated byqthe broken line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a perspective view illustrating the bottom and one-side wall of a tray which by preference forms'partof the. case; Fig. 6, an enlarged detail'section taken inihe plane indicated by the broken line 6'6'of Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a similar view taken in the plane in dicated by the broken line 7 7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8, a detail section taken in the plane indicated by. the broken line 8 8 of Fig. 2; Fig. 9, a perspectiveview illustrating the sectional base of the show-case as opened and also illustrating the tray ends which I prefer to connectto one section of said base; Fig. 10, a perspective view of the frame of the body of the show-case; Fig. 11, a detail perspective View illustrating the manner in which I prefer to connect the end walls and the front wall of the case-body; and Fig. 12,

disconnected views of parts of a modified case-bodyhereinafter specifically referred to.

Similar letters of reference designatecorresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 11 0f the drawings, which will first be referred to.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention (shown in said Figs. 1 to 11) the body of the show-case is made up of a frame A, having .apertured plates at at the corners of its lower side and also having an interior ledge b arranged a slight distance below its upper edge,a front wall B, having a glass panel a and also having its upper edge rabbeted, as indicated by d, Fig. 11, a back wall 0, which is formed by a frame having its upper'edge rabbeted, as indicated bye, Fig. 8, and also having groovesfin its upper and lower bars and slidable doors g arranged in said grooves, end walls D D, having glass panels h and rabbeted upper edges 1; and connected with the front wall B by hinges j, the pintles 1c of which are preferably removable, and a top wall E, arranged to rest over and receive the upper rabbeted edges of the walls B, C, and D, Fig. 2, and having a glass panel Z. The

case-body may also comprise a bottom wall F, which is removably arranged on the ledge 12 of frame A,-Fig. 2. Said bottom wall, how

ever, is not essential, and it may therefore be omitted when desired.

When-the case-body is set up ready for use,

arranged on the ledge b of frameA or on the wall F when employed andjwithin the upper portion of said frame A, while the top wall E rests on and receives the rabbeted upper edges of said walls B, O, and D. In virtue of this arrangement the walls .13, O, D, and E are held against casual movement with respect to each other and the frame A, and the result is a rigid and stable case-body. While this is so,it will be seen that when it is desired to knock the case-body down itfis simply necessary to lift the top wall E. off. the walls B, O, and D and said walls 13,0, and D from the frame A. The manipulations stated will leave the walls 13, O, D, and E free to be superposed and packed in the manner presently described. 7

In some cases the body of the case may when set up be arranged on a floor, counter,

the lower edges of the walls B, C, and D are or other support, in which event it will be secured to the support by nails, screws, or the like passed through the apertured plates at. I also desire it understood that when the parts of the case-body are detachably connected together bymeanswhichlhave deemed it unnecessary to illustrate the case-body may be used as a wal1-case--t'. a, may be secured against a wall.

The sectional base of the show-case is lettered G and best shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 9 of the drawings. It preferably comprises sections we, the meeting ends of which are mitered, hinge members n, arranged on and connected to the mitered ends of said sections, pintles p, one at least of which is removable, conmeeting the hinge members, and screws q, arranged in the upper barrels r of the hinges, whichupper barrels are interiorly threaded, as shown in Fig. 9. Pins may when desired be used in lieu of the screws q, in which event the upper barrels or sockets r of the hinges need not be threaded. I prefer, however, to use screws, as they are not so liable to be casually displaced as pins.

lVhen the case-body is used in conjunction with the sectional base G, the body is arranged on the sectional base and the screws qare passed through the plates aand into the threaded barrels or sockets r, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thus securely connecting the body and the sectional base.

In addition to serving as a base for the body of the showcase the sectional base G is designed to receive and protect the parts of said body when the case is knocked down for storage or shipment. When the base G is to be used for the latter purpose, one of the pintles p is removed, as is also the screw q above the pintle, and the base is turned inside outt'. e., the arrangement of its sections is changed from that shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 9 to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4after which the pintle is replaced in the registered barrels of the hinge members from which it was removed.

In virtue of the base G being adapted to be turned, as described, it will be observed that it is necessary to polish or finish only those sides of the sections of the base which are out when the base is in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 9.

The disconnected parts of the case-body are preferably packed in the turned base G in the manner best shown in Fig. 4that is, the frame A is arranged in an inverted position in the base and its plates or are connected to Y the frame and above the end walls D, and the front wall B is arranged in the frame and abovethe back wall 0. When the parts of the knocked-down case-bodyare arranged in the base G in the manner just described, it will be seen that no one of said parts projects beyond the base, and consequently when the package is properly secured the liability of any of the parts being marred or broken in storage or shipment is reduced to a minimum. It will also be observed that the package is a very compact one,which will take up but very little room in storage or shipment.

I prefer in practice to provide one of the long sections of the base G with strips H,- which are connected to the section in a hinged manner and are designed when the base is used below the case-body to form the end walls of a tray I. (Best shown in Fig. 2.) When the base G is turned inside out to receive the superposed parts of the case-body, said strips H are folded against the section to which they are connected, as shown in Fig. 3; but when the base is turned to bring the mitered ends of its sections together the strips H are arranged at right angles to the section to which they are connected. In this latter position the said strips H receive in grooves n provided in their inner sides, the bottom wall 8 of the tray. This bottom wall is connected in a hinged manner to a side wall 25, the ends of whichare mitered to meet the mitered outer ends of the strips H and are designed to be detachably connected to said strips through the medium of barrels u on the strips H and Wall t, and pins 12 removably placed in said barrels.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the tray I is formed by the strips H, the section of the base G to which said strips are connected, the bottom wall 8, and the wall t; also, that by removing the pintles p, which engage the hinge members 77. on the base-seetion to which the strips H are connected, the tray I is converted intoa drawer, which may be readily moved in and out below the casebody.

When the parts of the body of the case are packed in the sectional base, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, as before described, the tray-wall t is swung in and down on the tray-wall s and said walls ts are arranged at one side of the package, while the wall F (shown in Fig. 2) is, if desired, arranged at the other side of the package. From this it follows that even when the package includes the superposed walls 8 and t and the wall F it is very compact; also, that said walls 8, t, and F serve to protect and prevent breakage of the parts of the body of the show-case.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that when a package containing the parts of my improvements arranged as described reaches its destination it is simply necessary in order to set up the case to put the parts of the tray I together, reverse the sectional base G, so as to place the tray I within the same, and assemble the parts of the case-body and connect said body to the sectional base in the manner described. From this it follows that the case may be readily unpacked and set up walls B and C.

. said walls D may be readily connected to and as readily disconnected. from the frame A" .theparts of two case-bodies embodying my invention. In this event when the package formed by the baseG and the body parts reaches its destination the sectional base may be used to support one of the case-bodies,

while the other case-body may be arranged directly on and connected to a floor, a counter,or any other suitable support or may be arranged on the first-mentioned body.

In lieu of the frame Aand the walls B O D of the case-body the frame A and walls B, C, and D (shown in Fig. '12) may be employed without involving a departure from the scope of myinvention. The wallsD are detachably connected to the frame A by hinge members to and removable pins :0 and are provided with hooks y to take into sockets z in the From thisit follows that and the walls B and. C, also that the connection is a very safe and strong one.

I desire it understood that my invention contemplates arranging the upright walls of the case-body in the frame A with or without connections between said upright walls, also that when connections are employed they may be of any character suitable to the purpose. i

While my improved show-case is shown as rectangular .in form, it is obvious that it may be of any other shape desired without involving a departure from the scope of my invention.

Ihave entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order I to impart a full, clear, and exact understand- 1 ing of the same.

I desire it understood, however, that in practice such changes or modi- I fications may be made as fairly fall within the claim, and desire scope of my invention as claimed.

When one of the case-bodies is superposed on the other, as described in the foregoing, the lower body may be provided with a top wall or not, as desired.

Having described my invention, what I to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a knockdown show-case, a bodycomprising an open frame, separable upright walls removable from theframe, and a top separable from the upright walls; said upright Walls and top being adapted to be packed in the frame when the case is knocked down.

2. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open base, and a body comprisf ing separable parts, adapted, when the case is nation of an open base, a body comprising knocked down, to be packed in the open base. I

3. In a knockdown show-case, the combiseparable parts, adapted, when the case is knocked down, to be packed in the open base, and means for connecting the body and the base when the body is set up on the base, and also when the parts of the body are packed in the base.

t. In-a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open base, a body comprising separable parts, adapted, when the case is knocked down, to be packed in the open base, and coacting means on the base and body for connecting the base and body when the body is set up on the base, and also when the parts of the body are packed in the base.

5. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open base having sockets at suitable points, a removable body comprising separable parts, adapted, when the case is knocked down, to be packed in the open base, and having apertured portions arranged to register with the sockets of the base when the body is set up on the base and also when its parts are packed in the base, and pins for connecting the apcrtured portions of the body and the base.

6. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open base having threaded sockets at suitable points, a removable bodlycomprising separable parts, adapted, when the case is knocked down, to be packed in the open base, and having apertured portions arranged to register with the sockets of the base when the body is set up on the base and also when its parts are packed in the base, and

screws for connecting the apertu red portions right walls and top being adapted, when the case is knocked down, to be packed in the open .base.

8. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open base having sockets at suitable points, a removable body comprising a frame having apertured portions adapted to register with the sockets of the base, separable upright walls removable from the frame,

and a top separable from the upright walls and pins adapted to be arranged in the sockets of the base and the apertured portions of the frame.

9. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open base, and a removable body comprising a frame, separable upright walls removable from the frame, and a top separable from the upright Walls; said frame 'of the body being adapted to be packed in the base, and the upright walls and top of the body being adapted to be packed in the frame.

10. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open, sectional base susceptible of being turned inside out, and a removable body comprising separable parts, adapted, when the case is knocked down,to be packed in the turned base.-

11. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open, sectional base susceptible of being turned inside out, a removable body comprising separable parts adapted, when the case is knocked down, to be packed in the turned base, and means for connecting said base and body.

.12. In a knockdown show-case, an open, sectional base susceptible of being turned inside out.

13. In a knockdown show-case, an open, sectional base susceptible of being turned inside out, and provided with means whereby it maybe secured in both positions.

14:. In a knockdown show-case, a base comprising sections, the meeting ends of which are mitered, and hinges connecting said mitered ends of the sections; the pintle of one hinge being removable.

15. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open sectional base susceptible of being turned inside out, strips hinged to one of the sections of the base,'a bottom wall removably secured in said strips, and a wall hinged to the bottom wall, and detachably connected to the strips.

16. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of an open sectional base susceptible of being turned inside out, and a body comprising a frame, separable upright walls removable from the frame, and a removable top; said sectional base, and the frame of the body being provided with means whereby the frame may be connected to the base when set up thereon, and also when packed therein.

17. In a knockdown show-ease, a base comprising sections, the'meeting ends of which are mitered, and hinges connecting said mitered ends of the sections; one of the hinges having a removable pintle, whereby its members may be disconnected for the purpose described, and all of the hinges having sockets to receive removable pins or screws.

18. In a knockdown show-case, the combination of a base comprising sections, the meeting ends of which are mitered, and hinges connecting said mitered ends of the sections, and having sockets; one of said hinges also having a removable pintle, a removablebody comprising a frame provided with apertured portions adapted to register with the sockets of the hinges, uprightwalls removable from the frame, and a removable top; said frame, upright walls and the top being adapted, when the case is knocked down, to be packed in the sectional base, and pins for connecting the sectional baseand the frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL EDWARD WILTON. Witnesses:

ABRAM B. HOWELL, ROBERT E. KELLY. 

